“We are working closely with the local authority to investigate potential sources of infection as is standard practice.”

The Health and Safety Executive has been made aware of the man's condition and is liaising with other authorities.

Legionella bacteria live naturally in environmental water sources but if they get into water systems in buildings, they can cause a risk to humans through air conditioning systems, showers and spa pools.

The early symptoms include a flu-like illness with muscle aches, tiredness, headaches, dry cough and fever. Sometimes diarrhoea occurs and confusion may develop.

Deaths occur in 10-15% of the general population and may be higher in some groups.

The HPA stressed the disease cannot be spread from person to person saying the disease can only be contracted “from the source of the contaminated water.”

Recent cases of the disease include that of Berwick Hills taxi driver Neal Wilson, 49, who had come down with the Legionnaries’ during a holiday in the Costa Brava in 2010.

Shortly before that, Andy Brady, from Redcar, took ill. The dad-of-three said he “lost two weeks of his life” after he “flatlined” in hospital after contracting the infection.